Patent GB-378378-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for verifying statistical record cards
IPC: G06K5/00
Filed: 1931-04-02
Abstract: 378,378. Statistical apparatus. DAUBMEYER, D. C., 9765, North Martindale Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. April 2, 1931, No. 10050. [Class 106 (i).] Verifying perforated cards.-A machine for verifying perforated statistical cards or the like comprises the combination of perforation detecting devices 60, key-operated verifying means 70, error signal circuits controlled by the hole-detecting and key-operated means to give a signal when an error in perforation is detected, and means which, upon actuation of a repeat key 85, operate the verifying keys automatically, when an error signal circuit is initiated, to verify perforations common to a number of cards. If the verifying key 70 (or keys) depressed corresponds to the card hole read by the feeler 60 (or feelers) then the card carriage 20, 21 is allowed to escape one card column. If there is disagreement the carriage remains stationary and a signal lamp 81 is lit. Normally a circuit is made for the carriage escape magnet 50, but this is opened at 212, 213A, Figs. 4 and 22, if the error relay 80 is energized by an error. Normally the error relay circuit is made, but is opened if the verification is correct. Thus, when an error is detected the error relay circuit is allowed to remain closed to light the signal lamp and prevent energization of magnet 50. A switch arrangement is provided so that the circuits may be reversed to verify cards in the face-down position instead of the face-up position. The cards are stacked in a magazine defined by vertical rods 33, Figs. 2 and 3, the bottom card being fed by a picker 35 under an adjustable card-throat member 69. The carriage for moving the card column by column past the column of sensing pins 60 consists of a rack bar 20 rigid with a skip bar 21 and an arm 22 ; an arm 23 is pivoted at 28 to a bracket 29 (see also Fig. 14) on bars 20, 21. Roller 30 on bars 20, 21 and rollers 26, 27 on arm 22 move over guides 17, 18. The rear edge of the card being fed, rests on the shoulder 38 of the picker 35 which is hinged to the end of arm 22. The forward edge of the card is engaged by a slot 39 in the end of arm 23. To prevent buckling of the card the arm 23 is adjustable by regulating a stop 31 on the bar 21. A spring S moves the carriage to the left, Fig. 2, and to the right, Fig. 10, under control of the escapement, and a thumb-piece 40 is used to restore the carriage to the right. At each energization of the above-mentioned escape magnet 50, i.e. for each correct card column, this magnet actuates the alternately acting pawls 42, 45 to allow the carriage 20, 21 to escape one tooth to the right, Fig 10. Release magnet 55 energized by a release key 82 completely withdraws both pawls to allow manual movement of the carriage. Each card column is successively read by twelve pins 60, Fig. 3 ; when a pin reads a hole it opens its associated contacts 66<1> and closes contacts 66. The twelve contacts, 66<1>, 66 form twelve circuits which include contacts controlled by twelve verifying keys 70, Figs. 4 and 22 ; each key having a key lever 71, pivoted at 72 and carrying a roller 74. These twelve keys coact with twelve normally closed contacts 75, twelve normally open contacts 76 and normally open contacts 77, 59, common to all the twelve circuits. There are twelve contacts 77 wired in parallel and twelve contacts 59 in parallel. Twelve contacts 59<1> are provided, one for each of the twelve keys. Contacts 59, 59<1> are delayed in action relatively to the other contacts. If the key 70 depressed corresponds to the pin 60 which has sensed a hole, the circuit of error relay 80 is open, contacts 212, 213A remain closed, completing a circuit to escape magnet 50 which allows the card to escape to the next column. If there is an error and the key 170 depressed does not correspond to the pin 60 which has read a hole or if one key has been moved and there are two holes in the card column, then a circuit is completed through contacts 66 (closed by the hole read), contacts 75 (closed at the corresponding undepressed key 70) and common contacts 59 (closed by another key 70). This energizes relay 80 to open the escape magnet circuit at 212, 213A to prevent the card moving to the next column. At the same time an error signal lamp 81 is lighted. These error-indicating circuits are subsequently broken by depressing a release key 82, Fig. 22, which also energizes magnet 55, Fig. 10. Automatic repeated verification. To verify successive cards in columns which should bear identical data, a repeat key 85, Fig. 22, and twelve solenoids 88, Figs. 14 and 22, are used. Key 85 is first depressed to close contacts 87, a shoulder 86 engaging the casing to keep the key locked down. The appropriate solenoids 88 are then energized by depressing the correct keys 70. The solenoids are mounted in a frame 89 connected at 90 to the card carriage so that as the carriage escapes one step, the single column of twelve solenoids 88 moves to the next column of pins 91-there are forty-five columns of pins 91, corresponding to every card hole position. The armatures 99 are in axial alignment with pins 91 of the column under which the solenoids 88 are situated. When a solenoid 88 is energized from a key 70, the raised armature 91 raises the corresponding pin 91, which is latched up by its shoulder 96 and a horizontally sliding latch plate 97 for that column. All plates 97 may be moved laterally to release all set-up pins 91, by a pin 101 in each column with a cam face 102, each pin being raised by the armatures of a solenoid 881 which is energized, Fig. 22, when contacts 110 are closed by the reset key 108<1>. For this, the reset key is depressed successively for each column as the carriage moves on step by step. To clear all the plates 97 simultaneously, a hand-lever 113, Fig. 2, is depressed to move a common bar 111, Fig. 14, against all plates 97, stressing the springs 98. Carried in the frame 89 (moving with the card carriage) over the pins 91 are twelve wiper contacts 103, Figs. 3 and 14, corresponding to the twelve magnets 88. Each contact has a resilient portion 104 coacting with a raised pin 91 and a part 105 sliding over a contact rail 106 (see also Fig. 22). A raised pin 91 therefore energizes a corresponding magnet 107 to pull down the corresponding key 70. If this key (i.e. the set-up retained by the pin 91) agrees with the hole read by the feelers 60 then the carriage escapes to the next column. Skipping columns. To skip columns where verification is not desired, the bar 21, Fig. 10, rigid with the carriage rack 20, has a cam face 115 which depresses a pin 117 on pawl 42, so that pawls 42, 45 are lowered from rack 20 for the necessary number of card columns. The bar 21 is readily removable so that it may be replaced by another bar with a different cam 115 for skipping other columns. On the bar 21 is an upper cam 116 which overlaps (longitudinally) the cam 115 ; cam 116 closing contacts 118, Fig. 22, in the circuit of the carriage release magnet 55. By this means the carriage may be released to its final position by depressing the release key 82. Card release means. When the card carriage reaches the end of its travel a lug 122 on the arm 23 closes contacts 121 to energize four solenoids 120 (see also Fig. 22), each pair of solenoids attracting a bar 119. The two bars 119 are thus separated and release the card which, until now, has been travelling along guide grooves in these bars. The card falls into a discharge drawer 15. In a modification, Figs. 24 and 25, arm 23, guides 119, solenoids 120 and switch 121, are omitted and the card C, as it is moved step by step to the left, is held between springs 126 and a pair of supports 124, Figs. 24 and 25. These supports are cut away at their forward end to provide fingers 125 between the card reading pins 60. When the last (righthand) column of card C has left the pins 60 the card falls by gravity. Circuit reversal means. In order that the machine may be used to verify cards in the face-up or face-down position the necessary reversal of circuits is effected by a switch 127, 1271, Figs. 20 and 22. An annular member 127 has twenty-three contacts 128 and a rotatable disc 129 has twelve contacts 130 which may be rotated to engage one or other half of the contacts 128. The circuit diagram of the machine is traced in detail for the actions described above.